Statement of Philosophy

We, the Bartleby editors, faculty, and staff, as people who value creative expression and work to promote and share it in the UMBC community, are committed to:

• Listening to and respecting others’ ideas.

– Our goal here is to be fully inclusive and supportive of each other. We’re in this job — the creation of a stellar publication — together.

• Exhibiting professional behavior towards all submissions.

– Submissions vary widely. We are assured, though, that every submission comes to Bartleby because the author values the publication and wants a place at the table. We respect that desire, with no snark, no eye-rolling, and no harsh judgments.

– We understand the difference between “critique” and “criticism,” between “judgment” and communal act of “setting the tone”. We know what we say matters and has the power to hurt or strengthen the organization: we recognize that power and will use it responsibly.

• Conducting ourselves as if on the job: that is, we don’t bring personal issues that might exist outside the office to the table.

– To maintain a productive, safe, and healthy environment, we need to be able to work respectfully with each other. It takes actual effort to do this, and can be quite a challenge. In so many ways, cyber-space has altered how people interact socially; take back the public sphere! We behave with civility, we are cordial, respectful, and decent — and when in doubt, we golden-rule it. We swallow the urge to lash out, practice patience, and understand that the goal is a shared one: a great publication.

– Our attitude on the job will be — and is — made known in the UMBC community at large. Bartleby is a welcoming organization, united in both mission and spirit. It is everyone’s job to maintain and project a positive public image.

• Doing everything we can to welcome new people, which means integrating others, drawing them in, listening carefully.

– We are patient. We were all new once, too. If we don’t like the way we were treated, we right that wrong by changing the culture. If we do feel we’ve been treated well by our peers, then we do our part to actively uphold the culture we believe in. As newcomers, we are committed to listening, learning, and offering our thoughts and opinions from the outset.